Decisions

I was talking to a good friend today who I have been friends with since we 

were 11 years old, and just starting middle school. 

We have been through LOTS together.

For many years we were at completely different area's in our lives,

she was a wife and mother far years before I had even met Travis.

Yet here we are at the point where we are starting to figure out 

what we really want to do with our life in terms of a career.

We were chatting and I was saying how I think it is crazy that at 18 years old

you are supposed to get an education coinciding with the lifelong career you want.

The person I was at 18, and the person I am now are two very different people.

Hell, the person I was 5 years ago is stunned by the stuff that comes out of my mouth nowadays. 

The things I knew then, or thought I knew then are nothing in comparison to now. 

Had I known at 18 what I know now, my choice in a degree would have been so different. 

 I think this is part of why so many people hate the job they have. 

Your ambitions, likes, dislikes and passions change so much between 18 and 30. 

I finally got my degree a year ago,

and in that short amount of time I have discovered what I am truly passionate about,

and it certainly has nothing to do with what I spent years studying. 

I guess the point to all of this is,

while it took me a really, really long time to figure it all out,

I think I finally know what I'm supposed to do with my life. 

And it feels really good be starting on the path that will lead me to my career.

 

Source

Bits and Pieces

Life is rather mundane these days,

therefor I don't have a whole blog post worth of material to chat about. 

So again I am left with a post of randoms. 

Enjoy.

1. I'm 3-4 days in to the 2 week wait. 

I forgot how slowly time passes when you are waiting. 

I swear Thursday feels like 3 months ago. 

2. I'm finally making friends out here! 

It is so nice to have people to hang out with. haha

The stereotype is true; people in Texas are nicer! 

3. I'm a cheap ass. Major cheap ass.

I've been known to put a shirt back on the rack that was $8

because I was determined to wait for it to go further on clearance.

Well, Thursday Travis demanded I go buy myself some "real" clothes. At full price.

I still couldn't justify full prices, so I went to the Gap outlet that was having a nice sale. 

I am happy to say I came home with lots of stuff,

and only three items are going back as I just can't justify the price!

4. I love, love, love my Erin Condren planner.

However, it weights a friggin' ton. 

Seriously, I have to take it out of my purse every time I shop

or else my shoulder starts to throb. 

5. After talking with many customers at work who have also dealt with infertility,

I'm really happy to know I'm not the only one who buys baby stuff before being pregnant.

I can't tell you how many people I have met who already have a crib! 

I feel better knowing I'm not alone.

I know this is going to sound insane, and probably not make much sense,

but I've realize for me, buying baby stuff is a way of coping. 

If feel like I were to suddenly stop it would be like I was giving up hope. 

I know, I sound insane! 

6. With the above being said, I would like to be to known I scored at Baby Gap two weeks ago.

I got $275 worth of clothes for a whopping $35!!!

I owned that store! 

7. Even though I spent two weeks here in Texas last August, 

I'm 99% sure I have no idea what is coming this summer in terms of heat.

Help me!

What A Day

Today was a bit of a rough day for me,

for two completely different reasons.

. 

I had to be up at 5:30am (which is way early for me) and out the door by 6

to make it a car seat event we were doing. 

At the event parents who didn't have a car seat or had the wrong seat would get a brand new one.

I suppose it's just me being naive, but I really didn't think there would be many, if any,

children who showed up without a car seat. 

And then I opened the doors to my first car.

In the back seat were two precious kiddos, 4 years old and 13 months.

Neither were in any type of car seat. 

Just a seat belt. 

I wanted to cry. 

I realize I'm very "passionate" about car seat safety, and not everyone shares my same insanity.

But I was truthfully dumbfounded and speechless when I saw both 

those babies sitting in the back of the car without seat belts. Especially the 13 mo. old.

Their mom was extremely appreciative for our program,

and thanked us about a million times.

This situation brought up so many feelings for me...

sadness for these kids and the way they were growing up, 

jealousy that this woman who clearly could not afford children was able to get pregnant,

and anger that nobody in her life was willing or able to help her provide

a safe environment in her car for the kids.

The whole situation made me realize how blessed I am,

and how much I take for granted. 

After the car seat event I had to rush home, shower and head to work. 

I will say this about my job, we really get to know our customers. 

I see some of them every single week.

We know what is going on in their lives.

Many of them bring their babies in for us to see. 

Today one of our regular customers in. His wife and him just had a baby girl two weeks ago.

As he was talking to one of my managers I overheard the conversation.

He had come in because his wife was experiencing postpartum, and he didn't know what to do.

I should add, she in no way wanted to harm herself or their child.

They had made an appointment to see her doctor, but weren't able to be seen over the weekend.

I looked at this dad, and I almost started crying. 

He wants so badly to help his wife that he was tearing up telling us about what  was going on,

and how helpless he was feeling. 

We gave him as many resources as we had available, and

hopefully some will help until she can get into the doctor. 

If you happen to know of any resources or have suggestions of PPD, I would love to hear them.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a less emotional and heart tugging day.

Do You Actually Run?

That is the question I ask people all the time when they are looking at the BOB stroller.

Do you actually run? 

If you do, then absolutely the BOB is the best stroller for you.

But most people don't run, and tell me they have no intention of ever running!

If that's the case, there are plenty of other great stroller choices out there. 

But if you are a runner, I really love the BOB. 

Let me first say this, which you probably already know, but just in case...

 you can NEVER run with a baby while they are in their infant carrier and

you cannot run with baby until they are 6 to 8 months old.

Until that age, given their lack of head control, you are basically giving them shaken baby syndrome. 

On to the stroller...

It's big, it's meaty, and it strolls like a dream. 

 

As I said, this stroller is big. It's not lightweight in any stretch of the imagination. 

Every time I see a mom in the mall pushing this I can't help but think, 

bad choice lady! 

 Yes, this thing strolls as smooth as butter, but try getting through the shopping racks!

 

It does have an adjustable handle which is a plus. 

The basket on it is pretty small. Although, if you are out running you don't need a big basket.

It also offers a generous canopy. 

And it will take a child to 70 lbs., which is HUGE!

 

 

The collapse isn't bad, but it's certainly not the one handed fold other strollers offer.

(cough cough, baby jogger, cough cough)

As you can see, while it is a big stroller, it folds down pretty well. 

Again, I'm comparing it to the Chicco Cortina. 

That front wheel also pops off really easily if you need it to fit in your trunk. 

 

The Revolution has great suspension. 

This picture *sorta* shows you the difference in tire size between both strollers.

 The tires are huge. 

I realize it's like comparing apples to oranges, but you get the point! 

It does not offer a flat recline, which can be a bummer.

 

 Overall, I really do like this stroller. 

It's excellent if you need an all terrain stroller, and will actually use it 

on all different terrains. 

If you are looking for something that will mainly go to the mall and walks

around your neighborhood, don't spend $400 to $500 bucks on this bad boy.

 

Randoms.

I've got nothing big to share, so random bits about life it is.

~ Had an RE appointment yesterday. I had 19 follies, none of which were even close

to being big enough to do anything. The biggest I had was 9mm. Boo.

I can't help but have hope every month that God will work a miracle and

I will get pregnant. I'm trying not to lose that hope and faith, but there are some really

tough moments when I just can't help but question why it hasn't happened yet. 

Ugh. It's a daily struggle sometimes to try and stay positive. 

~ Started my child passenger safety certification training today. 

It wasn't what I expected, but I'm really glad I'm taking the class.

However, one of the instructors is the biggest bitch ever. 

She really makes class fun.

(insert sarcasm font)

~ I've really been missing my sister lately.

Her husband and her recently opened escrow on their first house, 

and while I am beyond thrilled for them, I so wish I was there to enjoy

decorating and designing the place with her, and the excitement of buying their first place.

It's moments like this I wish we had never moved.

Miss you Sista'! 

~ Travis got insanely sunburned yesterday.

I didn't know it was possible to be so red. 

He would not be happy if I showed you a picture of his face, 

so here is his forearm. His face and neck are worse. 

~ We are watching Survivor as I type and while I would never 

in a million years go on this show, I would very, very happily love to spend

a day splashing around in the gorgeous crystal blue water surrounding them.

~ I have two "product suggestions" I'm posting later this week. I feel kinda weird doing these. 

Someone commented asking about a jogging stroller, so I'm going to give my opinion on BOB.

I'm also doing one about the new City Mini GT. 

Any other products you want to know about? 

 

~ I can't believe we have already been here in Texas for 7 months.

Sometimes it feels like just yesterday we moved here.

Other days it feels like it's been an eternity.

Today, with the awesome humidity it felt like forever.

I could really, really do without the humidity. 

 

The Vista

Like I said in a previous post, I am going to start 

highlighting some of my favorite baby products I get to play with all day at work. 

These are just my thoughts and opinions. 

I was in no way asked to do these. 

I'm just obsessed and thought I would share my insight. 

My first favorite is the...

 Uppa Baby Vista. 

 

{Don't get me started on how I adore this color}

I absolutely, positively love this stroller.

I honestly don't think there is a single thing I don't like.

I take that back, the price tag blows. 

But I do think it is worth every last dollar. It's just a lot of dollar bills. 

If you want one, I suggest finding a 2011 still available. 

The $200+ discount makes this thing even more worth the price. 

I have heard very few negative things about this stroller. 

We have had one customer say she had an issue, and we were able to fix it for her.

I call that a success! 

 

I love that you can turn it into a travel system.

Seen above is my infant car seat of choice, the Cybex Aton. 

The adapters snap in insanely easily, and just plop the car seat on the adapters. 

Plus, the Aton adapters aren't huge, just two little posts. 

 

The fact that the stroller comes with the bassinet makes it even better.

Many people claim they won't use it, but for walks around the 'hood 

and long shopping trips it's a great alternative. 

You can also buy a wood stand to use in your house, 

so now you don't have to buy another bassinet for your bedroom.

And the inside of the bassinet is organic. 

Oh, and the canopy can fold down, or roll up the back and it is mesh

so you can get some air blowing through. 

 

The seat is reversible.

Enough said. 

 Baby can face you or the world. 

Love.

 

As if the canopy itself wasn't big enough, you then get this additional canopy

that is SPF 50. The pictures do not justify how big the canopy is. 

This is a great feature for days out at the park, Disneyland, the zoo...you get the point!

 

The basket.

For a stroller, it's huge. 

And access isn't even a question. It has to be one of, if not the easiest baskets to access.

That bar you see in the basket, I like it because when you fold the stroller I like 

to use that bar to pick it up. Super duper easy. 

 

You can fold the stroller with the seat on, but it folds much more compact if you take it off.

I like to take the seat off, fold the stroller and then 

lay the seat back across the top of the frame.

Another aspect of the fold I like is that the stroller stands up,

so if you have an SUV, you can stand it up in the trunk and it take up even less space.

  

It's hard to tell in this picture but the Vista has a smaller folded 

footprint that the Chicco Cortina. 

And, it's so much easier to lift and throw in the trunk. 

As I said, I absolutely love this stroller. 

I think I sell this stroller more than any other in our store. 

And we have about 50 strollers! 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

And if this was the lamest thing you have ever read, 

let me know so I don't continue to embarrass myself by doing more of these. 

p.s. I apologize for the "high quality' iPhone photo's!

 

Randoms

1. Yesterday was CD1, which means we finally get to start treatment again!

WOOHOO! 

This month I have no expectations as all we can use is Clomid so that going forward

our insurance will cover the good stuff (injectables). 

But I'm thrilled we are finally at this point so by next month 

we will hopefully have a real shot at getting pregnant!

2. The weather here has been amazing the past few days.

Of course it has been the days I am scheduled to work,

and the day's I'm off have been less than stellar. 

Oh well, you win some you lose some. 

3. Next week I am being certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician. 

Well, before I get certified I have to go through four 8-hour days of classes.

But I'm pretty excited for it. Not sure if I have ever mentioned it here,

but I'm a bit of a car seat maniac. Seeing them used incorrectly drives me batty. 

4. In June we were planning to meet my parents in Arizona to celebrate my birthday. 

But since my sister and her hubs are in the process of trying to buy a house, 

we figured the timing may work out that they would be moving in and getting settled
around that time. So instead of flying to Arizona, we would go to California instead.

I really hope it works out for them, I know how badly they want this house, 

and they have worked their little butts off for it. And, it's the perfect excuse

to spend a week with family and friends again, and a house warming party!

5. Speaking of my sister, I love that girl dearly. 

I am just so proud of her and all she has accomplished. 

It's amazing watching my little sister have such strength and determination 

and growing into an amazing wife, friend and photographer. 

And hopefully soon, a mom! (hint hint)

I can't wait for the day she can quit her job and solely focus on her own business. 

(Enter shameless plus) 

LuLu's Photography

If you are in Temecula area, San Diego or O.C., check her out please! 

6. Since I work at a baby store and get to play with baby gear all.day.long

I thought I might start blogging about some of my favorite products. 

These will just be my own opinions and what I see as pros and cons. 

If there is any product in particular you are curious about let me know.
Since this is my favorite, I think it will be my first post.

 

I know, you can just hardly wait.
(There really needs to be a sarcasm font)

Going Away Party

I'm a little (or a lot) late blogging about this, 

because I just realized I never hit publish way back when I wrote it. 

Better late than never?!?

Back in August my sister and parents threw us a little going away party.

Since we were moving to Texas, we thought  a bbq / cowboy theme would be appropriate.

We had a great time, and my sister did a great job with everything.

It was so nice to get to see everyone one last time before we moved away.

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

All photo's courtesy of LuLu's Photography